Is this going to be your first ever system or have you already developed some "insight" through listening to even a normal run of the mill Home Theater or stereo ( or even Hifi ) system? Does the Sony A/V receiver have a subwoofer out ( LFE ) output or will one have to buy a sub with speaker input and output terminals ( not all subs have this ) to connect up a later addition of a subwoofer to make all that thunder and rumbling without which a movie is left wanting? What will the SAF ( spouse acceptance factor ) be regarding floorstanding or stand mounted ( stands cost money, maybe divert this cost towards better floorstanding ) speakers ....... We want to help you, but we need some of your biases and taste in music too.....What fun!!!!

How much was that receiver, and how much do you want to spend on your main speakers......? You aren't going to get much in that budget except maybe a decent bookshelf on sale.

You might check an online store called Vann's who was offering some pretty good deals on Jamo. I found a friend of mine a 5.0 system for $249.00. This had the two floor main speakers, two small bookshelf for rear and a center channel. I was surprised the speakers sounded pretty good for the money but they normally were a couple hundred more. You'd still need a sub but this package would get you started for not much more than you budgeted. I think it was a 403 or 406 package.

He'd just have to decide whether to spend less and get the floorstanding mains or spend a bit more and get a sub. I don't like all small speakers though but when on a budget one has to make compromises.

These infinity Primus 162's are a decent speaker for the money. I bought a pair of the older but similar P160's for my daughter. For the price its a decent speaker. They also make the smaller p152's for surround as well as a center channel and a floor stander p262 model.

I like the idea of the P160's. As far as the surround package, I'm going to build this system over time. I don't plan to setup a full setup anytime soon. I might buy a subwoofer, but I won't push this above 2.1 yet.

I bought the receiver for $400, but it was priced at $1,199.99 before it went on sale (hurray amazing going-out-of-business sales. I has connections for a sub, that won't be a problem.

When it comes down to it I'm willing to spend a bit more on pairs of speakers since I'll be buying the various parts to this system over time. (i.e. if I pick up speakers that have more than 100W peak-per-channel then I'll be buying a pre amp at some point, but probably not right away.) It's a process that I enjoy somewhat. If I had the money to buy a full system that I would be happy with right now I would, but I don't want to speak $250-300 on a 5.1 system. I would much rather pay that amount for a nice pair of bookshelf or floor standing speakers that I'll be happy with.

So, what's the best deal you can think of for a pair of floorstanding or bookshelf speakers? Let's make this under $300, but if it's possible to find a great deal for even cheaper that'd be awesome!

I owned an earlier version of those Sony's-fine for HT but average at best for music. The Tsi's are very similar to the R150's but a little bit better grade of material not sure they are really worth the cost difference. I like my Polk bookshelf set up and own earlier versions of the R150 the R15. Nice tweeter and good overall sound. You may check to see if there is a pair of R15's in the second hand market in your area. With the money you save you could by a nice Polk sub to fill out the bottom end.

Klipsch's aren't highly regarded around here. They have a tendency to the bright side and are fatiqueing the more you listen to them. If you like that in your face sound as opposed to a more laid back sound, then they might be for you.

I can understand putting Polk over Sony, but what's the aversion to Klipsch? Is is the specific model or something against the company? I've never had a problem with their speakers.

I do like the Heresy's, LaScala's, Cornwalls, Fortes, etc...more for nostalgic reasons than for the actual way they sound but i can't bear to listen to anything they have made recently. I find them to be some of the ugliest looking designs as well. So to me if it sounds like crap and looks like crap, well...